Emissions Reduction, Projects, Renewables

Full-service engineer uplifts pivotal power station

The Shoalhaven Pumped Hydro Scheme (SPHS) was designed in the late-1960s and constructed in 1977. It then spent 45 years of uninterrupted operation with hardly an upgrade or overhaul.

That was, until Motion’s Engineering and Services Team was contracted to help with a facelift.

The Reservoir sits 600 metres above the NSW based power station and the former feeds the latter to power the National Electricity Market.

In 2022, Motion was approached by the operator to give the reservoir an upgrade – from design to installation and commissioning. Motion specialises in hydraulics, motion control and cryogenic equipment, among other engineering services, so this project was perfect for their in-house mechanical, electrical and software engineers.

A project of this stature calls for a range of disciplines, but Motion had a clear advantage, according to Motion Engineering Coordinator, Brendan Howe.

“There aren’t many companies out there that can handle the design, manufacture, electrics, installation, and site commissioning. So, that was one of the key selling points to us winning the contract,” Howe said.

“Finding someone that can do hydraulics and electrics is uncommon. We’re probably one of the few in Australia that can do it.”

While the old design was serviceable for the power station, it was certainly coming to the end of its life.

To read the full article in Motion’s new interactive magazine, please click here.

For more renewable and solar news, subscribe to ecogeneration

Send this to a friend